James George Frazer

The Golden Bough, A study of magic and religion (Annotated) James George Frazer

Differentiated book- It has a historical context with research of the time-The purpose of realizing this historical context is to approach the understanding of a historical epoch from the elements provided by the text. Hence the importance of placing the document in context. It is necessary to unravel what its author or authors have said, how it has been said, when, why and where, always relating it to its historical moment.(The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion) is a major comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist James George Frazer (1854-1941). First published in 1890 in two volumes, it had a second edition of three volumes in 1900 and a third (1907-1915) that increased to twelve volumes, which the author later summarized in one volume in 1922, corresponding to the version commonly published and read. The golden branch tries to define the common elements of religious beliefs, ranging from ancient belief systems to relatively modern religions such as Christianity. His working thesis is that the old religions were fertility cults that took place around the worship and periodic sacrifice of a sacred king. This king was the reincarnation of a god who died and revived, a solar deity who carried out a mystical marriage with the goddess of Earth, who died at harvest and reincarnated in the spring. Frazer claimed that this legend is predominant in almost all world mythologies. The germ of Frazer's thesis was the pre-Roman priest-king at the Nemi festival, who was ritually assassinated by his successor.